New flexible water tank and "taste" of water

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Pete735

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5 weeks ago I fitted a 150 litre Plastimo flexible water tank, I filled it with abut 100 litres of water, expecting to be back on the boat about a week later for a weeks sailing. After a family crisis, I have not got back to the boat until this weekend. The water has a "musty" for want of a better word, taste when used for tea and coffee. We bunged 4 sterilsing tablets in it, but that has made no difference. Other than a strange taste we have had no after effects and went back to fresh water in 10 litre containers from the boatyard for drinks.

Is this to be expected from a brand new plastic tank? All pipework and pump is brand new, albeit fitted some 12 months ago. Or am I being unreasonable in expecting water to last 5 weeks? I used search facility and have seen Milton and an Elsan product recommended. Has the system picked up some contamination in these few weeks or is it simply that I should expect this from a brand new system?
 
Personally I wouldn't leave untreated water that long.
I rate the Elsan product (Elsil) highly, I can't taste it (well sometimes I think I can a bit, but it's very slight), whereas I find water treated with Milton absolutely foul.
 
Milton is a solution of sodium hypochlorite and sodium chloride (salt). The hypochlorite is a source of chlorine. Provided the recommended dose of Milton is not exceeded and the treated water is allowed to stand before use you should not be able to taste it , at least not strongly, but if you over do it you will and if you repeatedly dose the same tank of water you may taste the salt.

Elsil is a hydrogen peroxide solution with a minute concentration of a silver complex. The hydrogen peroxide should not leave an after taste and I'd think the silver complex concentration would be too low to detect, even if it has a taste.

The purpose of either is to sterilise the tank and the water. I doubt if either help much to remove the taste of a new plastic tank. I'm surprised though that the materials used for the tank impart a taste to the water. Pipework is often the source of off flavours and contamination.

Maybe a good flush of the system,treatment with Milton or Elsil and a further flush will cure the problem but if it persists perhaps the housewife's remedy, namely a soak with sodium bicarbonate will help.

Water containing chlorine makes foul tasting tea IMO.

 
i have recently too fitted a flexible water tank and had a bad taste problem it has seemed to have settled down after using it, I wonder if there are some chemicals left in the tank from the manufacturing process.
 
My tank is also Plastimo bag fitted new this year. I flushed it once with Milton then filled it and could taste nothing but Milton ugh!
Now managed to get rid of that and with Elsil can taste nothing.
Milton definitely was chlorine taste not salt. Does it really contain salt? Seems odd as it's for cleaning/sterilising baby gear and salt is generally a no no for anything to do with babies.
 
Does it really contain salt
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Yes. It gives the concentration on the label but the bottle is on the boat so cannot tell you the figure. You drain stuff. You dont actually give it to babies to drink.
You dilute 15ml to 2.5 litres to use anyway

from the website On what to do if a child swallow Milton

Because of the salt in the solution in the bottle, the child will usually spit the fluid out, or at worst become sick. If they are not sick, there is no need to worry but a concerned parent can give the child a drink of milk. Milk being protein will neutralise the Milton.
​
 
All tank water gets a taste unless you are living on board and using huge quantities. I suggest you buy a good quality filter including carbon (for taste) and micro-filtration (for bugs). The General Ecology is good but pricey. With a decent filter you need never buy mineral water again.
 
4 tablets is rather a small dose for 100 ltrs, if they are Aquatabs have another read of the doseage. As suggested fit a carbon water filter makes a huge difference.
 
Plastimo Flexible Water Tank

I believe Plastimo recommend that you flush the tank with dilute white vinegar. I can't remember the ratio but it should be available from Plastimo. I read it on the paper work attached to the tank when installing mine
Good luck
Harry.
 
thanks for all the comments. I will contact Plastimo reference white vinegar, I do not recall any instruction sheet with the tank when I fitted it though.

Dosage at 4 tablets was low, it was an experiment to see if there was any taste difference - which there was not. At this stage we were puzzling over exactly what the problem was - stale tea bags was our original thought!

Depending upon Plastimos comments it looks like flushing out existing tank, refilling with fresh and then try some Elsil - from young children days, I know I can taste Milton in tea!
 
Pete735 said:
Depending upon Plastimos comments it looks like flushing out existing tank, refilling with fresh and then try some Elsil - from young children days, I know I can taste Milton in tea!
Click to expand...
Are you seriously considering drinking water that has purification chemicals in it? There is no need today, with modern filters.
 
I fitted a plastimo flexible tank at the start of this season and as previously mentioned used a diluted vinegar mix and then thoroughly rinsed out the tank. I also have an inline carbon filter. The result is water that is perfectly fine for making cups of tea/coffe. The dilution mix I can't remeber but it is written on the box that comes with the flexible tank.
 
Pete, I'm surprised the manufacturer gave no guidance and just let you get on with it.

After the system was assembled it should be assumed to be contaminated and therefore you begin with super-chlorination. Then change the water and dose at every fill thereafter.

Water 'tastes' are difficult to describe/recognise unless they are hydrocarbons, phenols etc. Bacteria can cause tastes. When sampling yacht or ship water I always sip taste it as sometimes I can declare it unfit there and then without submitting it to the lab.

Phone your local authority environmental health dept. They'll take a sample and look for pathogens (probably do it free of charge too). Ask them to give an opinion on taste.

They probably wont do a chemical analysis for free, that could well be an £80 hit, so do the bacterial and ask for a taste opinion.

Filters remove off tastes, but they may mask a problem.
 
i would think that an inline filter would be sufficient to remove the bad taste of your flex bag, i have a grp tank in the bilge and use a new filter every season, and have never had the need to worry about bad water, we fill the tank when needed, it holds around 120 litres and has never been treated..i use the whale inline filter..


Aquasource Clear Filter WF1230-12mm
Aquasource clear filter with 12mm connections. Designed to filter 4500 litres before replacing. This equates to one year's use.


around £20..
 
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